Friday, November 30, 2007

The Pottery Barn Rug Smell, I guess, has been a hot-button issue this week. Once again I received another hit yesterday because of it. Only this time, this person left a comment with their insight in regards to why the rugs smell.

Crazy4Rugs says it's not the wool, it's not the moisture, but it is the latex backing that holds the rug together. I just quickly examined the rug and I really can't say what kind of backing the rug has. It looks like a heavy woven fabric for lack of better words, but I guess some type of latex layer could be between there? Maybe holding everything together? I do know that something in the rug HAS to be dependent on the moisture level in the house. I'm not saying that it's because of the moisture in the house is why the rug smells in the first place, just wherever the smell is coming from, moisture makes it worse. My nose is always on point and when we got 14" of rain within a couple of weeks during the summer, the smell was at its peak.

I'm happy that someone left a comment in regards to the rug smell. Thank you, Crazy4Rugs, for sharing your thoughts.

I bought two Pottery Barn Rugs six months ago. About a week ago I noticed a really bad smell which I eventually figured out was the rug. The problem is the latex that is in the binding. NOTHING will neutralize this smell. I have been driven out of my bedroom and am guessing that I will have to remove this smelly thing from my apartment. Did I mention that these rugs are not cheap!

Just got a new rug from PB kids. Love it but hate the smell. I can't keep it in my child's room!! I just completely covered it w/ febreeze, next I'm going to cover it with baking soda hoping that will help.

It's not just PB rugs.It seems to be a problem with a number of brightly died tufted wool rugs made in India. I bought one, made by Trans-Ocean, about 5 0r 6 years ago and the smell - acrid and rubbery - has never gone away. I kind of ignored it for a while, but then finally couldn't stand it anymore and moved it down into the basement.

The problem is that no one (including me) wants to throw these things away because they look so nice.

BLUF (Bottom line up front): CAUTION: Breathing hazard - the rugs stink like burned rubber because there is a nasty-smelling latex substance on the rug backing underneath the burlap. BACKGROUND: Bought my stinky rug at American Home Furnishings, Albuquerque, New Mexico, some time back. After reading all these posts, decided to try fixing it last week. First tried ordinary rug cleaning with Bissell Little Green, no joy. Next soaked it overnite in the bathtub with a full 16 oz can of Oxyclean. Still stinky. Tore off burlap backing and found the culprit - uncured latex or rubber backing. My guess is they left out or under-cooked the vulcanizing part of the process to cure it. If it is indeed uncured rubber or latex, some of the handling instuctions I'm reading classify it as a hazardous substance and not to breath the fumes, because they can irritate the nose, throat, and lungs. Be careful out there!

I have the same problem with my PB rug. My mom has one, & the smell is there but much less....actually tolerable. Mine is ok when it's cold, but summer heats up that latex i guess and it's nasty.Has anybody contacted PB? Do they have any suggestions/explanation.Do any of you have a rug pad under it? I don't, and am wondering if that would help the air circulation under the rug and air it out a bit.You're right.....I love the way it looks, but can't deal with the smaell much longer.